The DC Traveler

In 1974, a new form of anti-establishment, rebellion rock music briefly took over the music scene, driven exclusively by unsigned bands. But the genre died quickly, but heavily influenced popular music ever since.
The U.S. punk movement starting at CBGB’s in New York City, was lead by bands that pushed traditional musical boundaries. Bands like Television, MC5, The Stooges, Iggy Pop, Suicide, The Ramones and the New York Dolls broke with accepted standard. Each band had their own new sound, but commonly condensed the traditional 3-minute single down into just a minute and a half. Collectively, these bands were called …read more

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The annual “A Midnight Clear” at the National Botanic Gardens recreates the monuments on the National Mall.  This past weekend I took a stroll through the gardens and it was delightful. Besides all the holiday decorations, the display of multicolored poinsettias and tons of wide-eyed kids added to the holiday spirit.  
The exhibit starts outside with a large model train exhibit with multiple trains, complete with a suspension bridge so large, you can walk under it.
Inside, in the Garden Court, there’s a large decorated Christmas tree also with a model train and village that will delight the kids. 
Around …read more

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Looking for a fun and unusual gift? Then check out the 40 local artists selling hand-made jewelry, works of art, soaps, candles, photos, clothing and crafts at the Downtown Holiday Market until December 23rd.
For something unusual, check out Zita Glass and her iridescent “fused glass” jewelry or Matthew Parker’s interesting photographic collages of major DC monuments.

Downtown Holiday MarketF Street, NW between 7th and 8th StreetsIn front of the American Art Museum and National Portrait GalleryWashington, DC (map it)
Dates and Times - Daily - Noon to 8:00 p.m. through December 23rd, 2007.
Admission - Admission is …read more

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If getting down to the Mall and the National Sculpture Garden at the National Gallery of Art for some outdoor ice skating, is difficult. Residents of Northern Virginia can enjoy a relaxing ice skating experience without the holiday Mall traffic and parking problems, at the Reston Town Center ice skating rink.
The rink is usually not very crowded and a good place for first-timers, especially smaller kids to learn.  The skating pace is slow, so parents don’t need to worry about their kids getting bowled over by speed demons.
You can also sign up for Saturday morning skating lessons - four …read more

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The 2007 Capitol Christmas tree in Washington, D.C. is decorated this year with 3,000 hand-made ornaments that are the handiwork of schoolchildren from across the country.
Personally, I think it’s far move attractive than this year’s National Christmas Tree, across from the White House. The decoration are ingenious and whimsical, many using recycled items, such as pie tins and paint stirring sticks.  It goes to prove that if leave kids on their own, you’re sure to get some interesting decorations.

This year’s tree comes from a national forest in Vermont.
It’s on the grounds of The Capitol Building, at 1 1st …read more

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Have a few days off during the Christmas break?  How about checking out some of these holiday-related and family-fun activities around Washington DC.
1. Since DC doesn’t have great downtown holiday department store windows, check out the window of Madame Tussauds. This year Santa’s special little helper,  Beyonce Knowles is there collecting letters for Santa and Whoppi Goldberg is handing out presents.  Madame’s is also open on Christmas Day from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. Ticket and hours info.
2. Visit the Capitol Christmas Tree at the U.S. Capitol. Since 1970, the tree has been provided by the USDA Forest Service. …read more

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Perhaps the most unrecognized heroes of the Vietnam War were the 256,000 women who served in the Army, Navy, and Air Force during the war years.  Among them, 11,000, mostly nurses and medical specialists, served in-country and in or near combat zones. 
Working mostly in military hospitals, aboard ships and with evacuation squadrons, these brave women provided care, comfort, and a warm human touch to soldiers who were wounded in action. About ten percent of them were air traffic controllers, communications specialists, intelligence officers, or clerks working for all the branches of the armed services.

The first American medical specialists …read more

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A couple months ago, I took a drive out to Hains Point and took a few photographs of The Awakening, a 5-part aluminum sculpture by J. Seward Johnson, Jr.
At night, the statute takes on a completely different feeling.

Images - personal collection

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Technorati Tags: attractions, b5 media, DC, dc travel, Haines Point, J. Seward Johnson, Jr., local attractions, sculpture, site seeing, The Awakening, The DC Traveler, tourist information, travel, vacation, Washington, Washington DC

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While several former players and one new Washington National player, catcher Paul Lo Duca were mentioned in the recent baseball steroid report.  But it’s doubtful the Nats will cut Lo Duca or void his recently-signed contract, due to a one-year $5 million guarantee. 
Since the Nats were so bad last year (73 wins and 89 loses), ending their season 16 games behind the division leader Phillies, MLB Commissioner Bud Selig was overheard to say that any bans on performance-enhancing drugs should not be enforced against the Nationals, at least until they are a solid 500 ball club.
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Technorati …read more

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Tired of Rudolph and his nose, Tiny Tim, The Nutcracker  and the seemingly endless broadcasts of “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “Miracle on 34th Street”? 
Feeling a bit Bah-Humbug are we?
Perhaps the Weirdo Show’s Not-A-Christmas-Show, at the Palace of Wonders might help reduce that holiday overload feeling.

Who the hell knows what performers you might get to see at the Palace of Wonders - sword-swallowers, magicians, circus acts, fire-dancers, gartered Burlesque dancers, racy vaudeville performers or just a few odd-balls doing weird things that’ll make you shiver.
The Not-A-Christmas Show will definitely distract you from the pressures of holiday shopping, …read more

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